Roger A. Baker, 62, South Whitley, passed away at 3:53 a.m. on Sept. 25 at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. He was born Nov. 1, 1950 to Arthur and Ethel Baker.

He graduated from South Whitley High School in 1969 and Huntington College in 1973, where he received a B.A. in Elementary Education. He married Mary Deneve on Aug. 21, 1970. He and his wife, Mary, home schooled their two sons. Roger was an avid gardener his whole life. During the past 20 years, he developed and tended a five-acre orchard on the family farm, which he deeply loved. He grafted several of the trees and seeded many of the plants at Country View Greenhouse, which is owned by his son, Ryan. He taught fifth and sixth grade Social Studies for two years. He then worked in customer service at Heckman Bindery, North Manchester for several years. He was then employed at Wabash Technologies as a supervisor for 12 years. Then he was employed at Group Dekko, Merriam, as a supervisor for 10 years. He was most recently employed at Bulldog Battery, Wabash.

He is survived by his wife and two sons, Mark and Ryan Baker, both of South Whitley.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. at the Missionary Church, 208 SR 114 East, North Manchester, with Pastor Dan Binkley officiating. Friends and family may call at McKee Mortuary, 1401 SR 114 W, North Manchester, on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 3-5 p.m. There will also be a calling one-hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at South Whitley Cemetery.